US Elections


Opinion

Prediction Markets Go to Washington('s Appeals Court)

A federal appeals court will consider the CFTC's ongoing efforts to keep political prediction markets from launching.

(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Policy

U.S. Election Betting: CFTC, Kalshi Both Grilled by Judges in Appeals Court

The agency appealed a lower court's decision to let the firm offer prediction markets on which party will control each house of Congress. Crypto firms are watching the case.

Kalshi is trying to launch U.S. political prediction markets ahead of the 2024 election. (Pete Kiehart for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Finance

Trump Buys Burgers With Bitcoin at NYC Crypto Hangout PubKey

The former president and Republican nominee sent the transaction with the help of PubKey staff.

Trump sending bitcoin transaction at PubKey bar in NYC (Fox News/Modified by CoinDesk)

Policy

U.S. CFTC Chair Behnam Says Regulator Will Keep Pursuing Kalshi Case

The U.S. derivatives regulator's legal battle with the prediction markets is currently winding its way through an appeals court.

CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)

Finance

A New Prediction Market Raises $3M in Pre-Seed Round Led by 1confirmation

Unlike industry leader Polymarket, Limitless isn't focusing on the election. It's carving out a niche with bets that expire quickly and with user-created markets.

Like a horse track, Limitless Network wants bettors to come back daily. (Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)

News Analysis

Second Assassination Attempt Barely Moves Trump's Polymarket Odds

Nearly $1 billion has been staked on the election at the crypto-based prediction market. Plus: are you ready for 20x leveraged election betting?

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, watches a video of Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With 53 days before election day, Former President Trump continues to campaign.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Policy

'An Explosion of Election Gambling' Is Nigh, CFTC Warns Appeals Court

The regulator asked the court to extend the pause of Kalshi's political prediction markets for as long as the agency's appeal is pending.

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - SEPTEMBER 13: Republican presidential nominee, former U.S. President Donald Trump, watches a video of Vice President Kamala Harris during a campaign rally at The Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas on September 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. With 53 days before election day, Former President Trump continues to campaign.  (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Policy

Even Temporarily Blocking Election Contracts Risks 'Irreparable' Harm, Kalshi Argues

Kalshi wants an appeals court to let it trade political prediction markets while the CFTC appeals its court loss.

Kalshi should be allowed to trade its political events contracts while the CFTC appeals its court loss, the company argued Friday. (Mike Stoll/Unsplash)

Opinion

U.S. Political Prediction Markets: Why Kalshi's Court Victory Matters

If it turns out that the judge's ruling preempts the CFTC’s proposed rulemaking, election event contracts may now be completely legal.

WASHINGTON, DC -  SEPTEMBER 09: An exterior view of the U.S. Capitol on September 9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Additional security fencing is placed around the Western front of the Capitol from August 2024 to February 2025 in preparation for the 2025 Presidential Inauguration. (Photo by Bonnie Cash/Getty Images)

Policy

Kalshi's New Political Prediction Markets Halted as CFTC Appeals Loss

Contracts offered to U.S. customers on who will control Congress only traded a few hours before being halted pending the appeal.

(Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)